'Iran ready to be mediator in Karabakh issue'

Iran is interested in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh peacefully, the head of Institute for Political and International Studies, Iranian Foreign Minister Mostafa Dolatyar told journalists in Baku.

"Iran supports Azerbaijan's position on this issue within the framework of international organizations and is ready to be a mediator, Tehran has a great potential in solving this conflict," Dolatyar said.

Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as the three neighboring states, have a major stake in the conflict and restoring peace and stability in the region, Dovlatyar said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/